PESHAWAR, March 8: One billion rupees special development package (SDP) for Fata has been prepared, containing a number of development schemes in communication, power and irrigation sectors, for the inaccessible areas of Khyber, Mohmand, Orakzai, North Waziristan and Kurram Agencies.

NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah was given a detailed presentation on the package at a meeting held at the Governor’s House on Thursday.

The meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Secretary Shakil Durrani, secretaries finance, works and services as well as additional secretary home and the political agents of the respective tribal agencies.

Chief of section, Fata planning and development department, during the presentation, highlighted of the salient features of the development package and the proposed schemes. The meeting was informed that schemes pertaining to communication, power and irrigation facilities were the basic components of the special development package.

The communication sector has been given priority with a total allocation of Rs632 million whereas in the power and irrigation sectors development would cost Rs140 million and Rs67 million, respectively. Communication sector development includes 17 schemes to construct 315km-long roads.

Small dams and check dams will also be constructed in Tirah areas of Khyber Agency, 50 dug wells in Khoezai and Baizai areas of Mohmand Agency and Khanki small dam and floodwater storage reservoir in Orakzai Agency.

The power sector project include construction of a grid station and extension of electricity to the remotest and inaccessible areas. Rs130 million have also been set aside for education and Rs28 million for health sector in all the tribal areas. The areas which are to be developed under the package, include Tirah Bazar Zakhakhel in Khyber Agency, Baizai areas of Mohmand Agency, Momozai of Orakzai Agency, FR Kurram Agency and Madakhel area of North Waziristan Agency.

During the presentation, it was stated that the special uplift plans, costing Rs554.860 million, had already been launched in Arang and Brang areas of Bajaur Agency, Bazar Zakhakhel of Khyber Agency and Ambar and Khoezai areas of Mohmand Agency besides Khyber Area Development Project, costing Rs524.173 million.

Under Fata Annual Development Programme, Rs160m were being spent on the development of Manitoi and Sanitoi areas of South Waziristan Agency, Mullagori area of Khyber Agency, Mamozai area of Orakzai Agency, Madakhel in North Waziristan Agency and Shawal area in South Waziristan Agency.

Addressing the meeting, the governor directed the officials to remove disparity in educational facilities for boy and girl students of Fata, laying emphasis on proper planning for degree colleges in Fata at least one each for boys and girls in each agency. There must be at least a higher secondary school for girls in each part of the tribal belt, he said, adding efforts be made to upgrade the existing higher secondary schools to degree level in order to provide higher classes to both male and female tribal students in the respective tribal areas.